Toe softener



Dec. 5, 1939.

c. E. MARTIN 2,182,541

TQE SOFTENER Tiled Nov. 11, 1937 raz 2 Sheets-Sheet l Dec. 5, 1939. c.E. MAR-HN 2,182,541

TOE SOFTENER Filed Nov. ll, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet 24 Patented Dec. 5i,1939 'r oFFl-E A T E TOE soFTENn' Application November' 11, 1937,Siial'o 174,115

18 Claims.

This invention'relates toheaters for softeningl box toe stieners inconnection with'the pull over and bed lasting operations in themanufacture 'of shoes.

3 T.n'thetoe softening' operation the elements to beconsidered are 'thebox toe material, the upper leather` of theshoe and theinsole, and insome cases a lining of sheepskin or a lining having a o coating'oimaterial which will'become sticky if l overheated.

B0X toe material can be softened in a dry heated atmosphere, but dryheatis'injurious to the upper leatherv and innersole materials, andcannot be safely appliedto'anassembled shoe.

i Furthermore when dry heat is'used'the composition with which the boxtoe is impregnated will fry out in the form of'v drops and beads on thesurface of the material and this impairsv the resultant structure.

Inthe 'manufacture of shoes, when the shoe comes to the bed laster theupper is pulled over the last and secured by tacks located on each sideand at the extreme tip; the upper'then hanging down around the forepartof the last except when secured bythe tacks, and such pulled over uppertends to spring 'away from .the last, and this exposes much' of theinside of the box toe stiiener and lining. y

One object of my invention is'to provide novelV SOmeansWhereb-y the boxtoe, upper leather, and` lining can be readily softened Yto`a degreethat' enables them to be easily formed or lasted without injury Vto thematerials, and present a' smooth unwrinkled appearance when the jobU is"completed; A further object is'V to enablethe box-toe to'V be softenedwithout injuring the insole and'upper portion of the shoe by eitherburning or wetting.

y The accompanying drawings illustrate one embodiment of my invention,and I Will first describe the same in detail with reference to saiddrawings; and then summarize in the claims the novel features ofconstruction and novel combinations of parts for which protection isdesired.

In saiddrawings: n

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of my softener partly in section;

Fig'. y2 -is a detail vertical section on the line 2-2,Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is -a side View of Fig. 2;

Fig.- 4 is an lenlarg'ed'bottom plan view of the' base plate andexpansion chamber; and

Fig; 5 is a perspective' view of part of the radiator. 5.7 In-theconstructionshown a 'hollow standard'l th'efreai' edgfefthereof, is ,ahollow Inveni'loer4 2 1)` is anni@ upon; a, aan ai if may Stebaconstruction. On the upperend :of standard lis 'f `mounted' abase'kplatehZ, havingacentralrdependingcollarn 2721,' whichis providedwith an inf; terna'l 4partitior' 2e, which closes ofi,theupperv portion'ofthe collar. o The endofthe collar below the 'partitin isle'rvlgag'edv Vwith dthe upper endI of standard' l', and supports thebaseplatethereon. l

Ori the underside' ofa the' `base plate,4 adjacent X i 10 (preferablycast integral the basemplatel) having itsv ylo'c'ittornv portion slopinginwardly and downward from its ends 'towards its center, Y`Thevlinte'rinfafrl of mei'ber 2li-forms a rstearnexpansignh chanibe'r'E. Atits` central portion thisfchambermw opens into thefchamber in collarZaabove the partition 2e; the chamber in( therupperfparty of the collarabove" the partition formsanextensin of the yen'p'e'lr'isi'in chamber E.To the partition 2e'is connected a vapor outlet pipe 2p,Whioh'depends'int the hollow standardv i, its lower' endgbe'ingbelow'the'` level of the water; thereinQ andfbe'irg' sealeduloy thewater in the," v staiid'ard.` llinA collar' 2d below partitionQZe .are

openingstp which serve yas vents for escape ofg steam if the watersealis'broken. j ,Y y v Mounted upon' the'loasek plate 2 is a radiator4, l which fis' "preferably formed 4of a hollow castinghaving"a`piur'ality of integral eiiterior fins vila,V that 'extend' atright angle's'tto the radiator across the top and partially down eaelrlside thereof. The iinsfincrease'the heatwradiation, andA the,spaces'therbetwen provide continuous vertical and horiaont'alpassagewaysfor heated air andI vapor.` d. .A K Y 35 The radiatorhaslfend flanges 4b which extend,` entirely around the radiator and"Hsupport it on ,Y and abovethfplat'e `2 and space it from the wallsofthe" casing 3.l

The radiator lits surroundeduby ay oasiigv 40'v mounted upnth'eHpleittewZuandv open at QD, and.,y lotittorr'i, Thisfcasing ,forms theoutside Walls offv,

upper'edg' oilthe ncasing 'is preferably lprovided The hoodl 5 ispre'feraloly formed of a casting corresponding in length toY theradiator, and having it'sff'rontwall 5d curved, downwardly from thetoparirdrear of the hood tothe Vfront iloweril, ed'g'e thereof, and inthis curvedwall are` formedo new, we hief. tlef bpiliegs ,are plagehim li vertical` straight Wall facing the operator,` and al l the curved wallextends downwardly on the back side of the hood and away from theoperator.

The hood 5 is provided with an inner curved wall 5e substantiallyparallel with the curved front wall 5a and is provided with openings 5fsimilar and adjacent to the outer openings 5b. The interior of the hoodadjacent the related openings 5b- 5f forms a softening chamber S intowhich the toe of the shoe is inserted during the softening operation.

In the construction shown the casting 2, casing 3, radiator 4 and hood 5are shown of sufficient length to permit four shoes to be treatedsimultaneously. In such construction the hood has four openings 5b and5f in its walls Eva-5e and the adjacent pairs of openings are separatedby vertical partitions 5C, which register with partition flanges 4c onthe radiator, said flanges 4c extending around the top, bottom, andsides of the radiator and corresponding in size with the end of flanges4b. The construction described is in eect fourseparate shoe treatingunits, each operating entirely independent of the others.

The base plate 2 is providedwith air inlet openings 2d so spaced thatthere is an inlet between,

l entering under the -radiator and passing up both Asides thereof andbeing heated by direct contact with, and radiant heat from, theradiator.

The expansion chamber E is provided in its top with one or more jetopenings 6i to permit the escape of vapor or steam from the expansionchamber into the casing below the radiator; there being a likearrangement of outlets between each adjacent pair of anges 4b or 4c.

The partitions tlc and end flanges 4b of the radiator 4 line up with thepartitions 5c and ends of the hood 3 5, and form continuous partitionsfrom the bottom of the radiator chamber to the top of the hood which`keep separate the mixture` of air and vapor admitted to eachcompartment or chamber S. The advantage of this design is that if anyone or more of the chambers is open (that is no shoe being treatedtherein), air currents in the room, or from an open window, which mayenter the open chamber cannot in any way affect the atmosphere in achamber wherein a shoe is being treated.

VSteam is supplied from a main steam pipe 6, to a distributing head 6x,and passes from this head through a pipe 6a to the inlet 4i of theradiator. VThe amount of steam is regulable by a valve 6b, and inpractice the radiator inlet valve is usually turned to wide open. Steamescapes from the radiator through an outlet opening 4o at the other endof the radiator and is returned by a pipe 6c to the trap 6d.

Steam is supplied from the head 6x through a 1 pipe 'l to the expansionchamber E, the amount of steam admitted being controlled by a needlevalve 1a. The condensate in the expansion chamber E drains downto thecollar 2a above partition 2e and thence through pipe 2o into the Openingthe needle valve 'la about three-quarters of one turn will admit steamto the expansion chamber E, wherein expansion of the steam takesplaceand the consequent water vapor formed lescapes upwardly into thecasing below the radiator through the jet apertures 6i.

The vapor emerging from the jets mixes with the air and passes upwardbetween the heated fins of the radiator. The heated air rising from thetop and sides of the radiator mixes with the vapor, and the air andvapor become thoroughly mixed and interspersed before reaching andentering chambers S in the hood. I preferably adjust and proportion theparts so that a relative humidity of about 100 and a temperature ofabout 200 F. is obtained within the chambers S.

The inner curved wall 5e being heated causes a natural draft or upmovement of mixed air and vapor which escape through the curved passage5s between the curved walls 5ft-5e, and pass out the vent 5t provided inthe extreme top and rear end of the outer curved wall. This constructionis effective for the purpose designed. The vent 5t might be connected toa stack or an exhaust system, without detracting from the eciency of thesoftener, because no heated air or vapor can be removed from a chamber Suntil it has contacted with and passed around the toe of the shoe beingtreated.

When the toe part of a shoe is inserted in a chamber S of the hoodthrough the top openings 5b5f the passage between the two curved wallsSa-lie is directly over the rear limit of the portion of the shoe to beheated (approximately the tip line of the shoe).

The relation between the size of the vapor jets 6i and the depth of thewater seal should be such that the proper amount of Vapor and air willbe normally directed to the chambers S in the hood;

and then if an operator should attempt to get more vapor into the hoodand open the needle valve further, the increased pressure in theexpansion chamber will break the water seal at the end of the outletpipe 2o and the excess steam will ow out of the pipe and ,up thestandard and escape through the vent openings 2p, and no more than thepredetermined correct amount of vapor will escape through the jets.'I'his is a practical safety feature; as an excess amount of vapor willcause precipitation on the insole or upper or both, either of whichconditions ref sults in spoilage or cripples.

:.What I term a correct amount of vapor is `that amount which whenadmitted to a chamber S (in which the toe part of the shoe is treated)will'produce and maintain such a moist atmosused in the shoe making artfor uppers, toe` stiffeners, linings and innersoles can be treatedperfectly and without injury.

In my construction the entire surface ofthe radiator over which the shoerests is exposed so that I transmit heat directly to the parts to besoftened by direct radiation as well as by convection, and the operationof my softener does not depend in any way upon keeping separated any ofthe various elements such as air or vapor.

The incoming air streams divide below the ra.- diator, part going to therear, and part passing up the .frontthereo and' presumably a largerportionfof the incoming air is drawn to the Vback of the radiator due tosuction created bythe vapor jets, and I ldo not keep the air and vaporseparated.

My heater enables the operator to soften the toe of a shoe up to anydesired point and not affect in any way that portion of the shoeadjacent to it. Excess air cannot enter the outer poltion of a chamber Swhile a shoe is being treated, because the shoe practically closes theentire opening in the front of the chamber and the rising streams of airand vapor pass into and through the chamber.

When the upper is pulled over by the bed laster and the shoe is insertedin one of the shoe treating chambers, the exposed portion of the box toestiifener is subjected to direct radiant heat from the top of theradiator and also to the vapor laden heated air which directly contactswith the exposed portion of the box toe stifener, and the stifrener isthereby quickly softened suiiiciently to be lasted.

While the heater shown has four treating chambers, lthe number can bevaried. In practice I have found that three treating chambers aresuicient to enable the box toe stiiieners to be softened as rapidly asthey are required by an operator Working at normal speed, but a fourthtreating chamber provides a safety margin for unusually fast operatorsor unusually hard stiffeners.

Iclaim:`

l. A toe softener comprising a base, a casing on said base, an expansionchamber adjacent the base, a radiator mounted upon the base within thecasing, a hood above the radiator having a wall provided with an openingand forming a chamber in which the toe of a shoe to be treated isinserted, means for supplying steam to the expansion chamber andradiator, the hood having an inner wall parallel with the front wallthereof and provided with an opening for admission of the shoe toe, anda vent to the atmosphere for the space between the walls at the endopposite the opening.

2. A toe softener comprising a base, a casing on said base, an expansionchamber adjacent the base, a radiator mounted upon the base within thecasing, a hood above the radiator having a wall provided with an openingand forming a chamber in which the toe of a shoe to be treated isinserted, means for supplying steam to the expansion chamber andradiator, a pipe for conducting condensate from the expansion chamber,and a water seal for said pipe whereby the pressure in the expansionchamber is automatically controlled.

3. A toe softener comprising a base, an expansion chamber adjacent thebase, a casing mounted on the base plate, a radiator within the casing,a hood mounted upon the casing above the radiator and provided with anopening for the insertion of a shoe toe, said base plate being providedwith an inlet for -air into the casing beneath the radiator, and saidexpansion chamber having apertures for admission of vapor into thecasing below the radiator, and means for supplying steam to the radiatorand to the expansion chamber.

d. In a toe softener as set forth in claim 3, a pipe for conductingcondensate from the expansion chamber, and a water seal for said pipewhereby the pressure in the expansion chamber is automaticallycontrolled.

5. A toe softener comprising abase plate, an expansion chamber adjacentthe base plate,l a casing mounted on the base plate, a radiator mounted`upon the base plate Within the casing, said radiator having flanges andtransverse fins on its top and sides intermediate the langes,fa hoodmounted upon the casing above the radiator and having. its front .WallcurvedA forwardly and downwardly from rear to front and provided with anopening in the curved face of said wall for the insertion of a shoe toe,said base being provided with openings for admitting air into the casingbeneathl the radiator and said expansion chamber having apertures foradmission of vapor into the casing below the radiator, and means forsupplying steam to the radiator and to the eX- pansion chamber.

6. In a toe softener as set forth iny claim 5, said hood having an innerwall parallel with the front wall thereof and provided with an openingfor admission of the shoe toe, and a vent to the atmosphere for thespace between the walls at the end opposite the opening.

'7. In a toe softener as set forth in claim 5, a pipe for conductingcondensate from the expansion chamber, and a water seal for said pipe,whereby the pressure in the expansion chamber is automaticallycontrolled.

8. In a toe softener of the character described, a hood having its frontwall deflecting forwardly and downwardly and provided with an opening inthe front portion for admission of a shoe toe; an interior wall -in thehood parallel with the front wall and having an opening. for theaccommodation of theshoe toe, and a vent to the atmosphere for the spacebetween the walls at the' end opposite the opening.- v

9. For a toe softener, a casing, a radiator within the casing having endanges and spaced intermediate iianges projecting beyond the top side andbottom wail thereof and partitioning the casing, and iins on theexterior sides of the radiator intermediate the flanges.

lil. For a toc softener, a casing, a radiator within the casing havingend flanges and intermediase iianges projecting beyond 'the top side andbottom thereof and partitioning the casing, and exterior ns extendingtransversely across the top and sides of the radiatorintermediate -advjacent flanges.

ll. A toe softener comprising a base, an eX- pansion chamber adjacentthe base, a casing on the base, a radiator mounted upon the base Withinthe casing, said radiator having end flanges and intermediate flangesprojecting beyond the top side and bottom thereof to space the radiatorfrom the walls of the casing, and a hood mounted above the radiator andhaving an open bottom and spaced openings for the admission of shoetoes, and partitionsv intermediate said openings, the partitionsregistering with the related flanges on the radiator so as to form aplurality of independent similar shoe treating chambers.

12. A toe softener comprising a base, an expansion chamber adjacent thebase, a casing on the base, a radiator mounted upon the base within thecasing, said radiator having end fianges and intermediate flangesprojecting beyond the top side and bottom thereof to space the radiato-rmediate the openings, the partitions registering with the relatedflanges on the radiator so as to form a plurality of independent similarshoe treating chambers, the front wall of said hood being deectedforwardly and downwardly, the base plate being provided with inlets forair beneath the radiator and the expansion chamber having apertures inits upper side for admission of vapor into the casing below theradiator.

13. A toe softener comprising a base, an expension chamber adjacent thebase, a casing on the base, a radiator mounted upon the base `within thecasing, said radiator having end flanges and intermediate flangesprojecting beyond the top side and bottom thereof to space the radiatorfrom the walls of the casing, and ns extending transversely across thetop and sides of the radiator intermediate the adjacent anges, an openbottom hood mounted upon the casing above the radiator and having itsfront wall deected forwardly and downwardly from rear to front, andprovided with an opening in said front wall for the insertion of a shoetoe, said hood having an interior wall parallel with the front Wallandprovided with an opening for the admission of the shoe toe, the baseplate being provided with air inlets beneath the radiator andtheexpansion chamber having apertures for admission of vapor into thecasing below the radiator; and means for separately supplying steam tothe radiator and to the eX- pansion chamber.

14. For a toe softener, a base having a central depending collar, andair inlet openings at opposite sides of the collar, an expansion chamberconnected to said base and extending below the same and having itsbottom wall inclined toward the collar, and apertures for the escape ofvapor from said expansion chamber, a drain pipe connected with saidexpansion chamber, means for supplying steam to said chamber, and awater seal for said pipe whereby the pressure in the chamber isautomatically regulated.

15. I n a toe softener of the character specied, a hollow standard, abase mounted on the upper end of said standard, an expansion chamberconnected with said base and having apertures for the escape of vapor, adrain pipe connected with said expansion chamber and depending into saidstandard, a radiator mounted on said base, means for supplying steamtosaid expansion chamber and to said radiator, and means for conductingcondensate from the radiator to said standard; the expansion chamberdrain pipe being water sealed by the condensate in said standard.

16. In a toe softener of the character specined, a hollow standard, abase mounted on the upper end of said standard, an expansion chamberconnected with said base and having apertures for the escape of vapor, adrain pipe connected with said expansion chamber and depending into saidstandard, a radiator mounted on said base, means for supplying steam tosaid expansion chamber and to said radiator, and means for conductingcondensate from the radiator to said standard; the expansion chamberdrain pipe being water sealed by the condensate in said standard, acasing surrounding the radiator, and a hood mounted on the casing abovethe radiator and having its front wall curved forwardly and downwardlyfrom rear to front and provided with an opening for the insertion of ashoe toe.

17. A softener of the character specied, having an expansion chamberprovided with restricted orifices for water vapor, a regulated steamsupply for said chamber, a drain pipe for condensate connected with saidexpansion chamber, and a water seal open to the atmosphere for said pipemaintained -by the condensate whereby the pressure in the expansionchamber is automatically relieved whenever an excess amount of steam isadmitted into the expansion chamber.

18. In a toe softener of the character specified, a hollow standard,means for venting the standard to the atmosphere; an expansion chambersupported on said standard and having restricted apertures for thepassage of vapor, a regulated steam supply for said chamber, and a drainpipe connected with said expansion chamber and depending into saidstandard, the lower end of said pipe being sealed by water in saidstandard whereby excess steam in the expansion chamber will be divertedto the atmosphere.

CHARLES EARL MARTIN.

